Review: Samsung Gear S2

Samsung only released the Gear S2 about a year ago, so there are still a lot of people who haven’t seen them. Just because it hasn’t become a household item yet, doesn’t mean that this isn’t a fabulous watch for people interested in the latest consumer tech. In fact, some of us believe it’s significantly better than the smartwatches from Apple.

Top Features

There are a lot of things to like about the Samsung Gear S2 smartwatch. If you like the Android operating system, then you will be happy to learn that the Gear S2 is compatible with versions 4.4 and newer. If you’re looking at smartwatches, then you almost certainly have a device that’s compatible with that.

We also like that the watch comes with 1.5MB of memory. That’s not nearly enough memory to store music, but it does give you plenty of space for your favorite apps.

Finally, we love the touchscreen. It reacts immediately to commands and has icons that are large enough to tap (usually. Some of us struggled more than others).

What’s Unique About Samsung Gear S2

The Samsung Gear S2 Classic stands out for its beautiful aesthetic. You can get it with a real leather band that makes it appropriate for corporate settings. But you can also get plastic bands that are perfect for withstanding serious exercise.

The Gear S2 also lets you choose from a variety of watch faces. If you’ve never owned a smartwatch, you’ll be amazed by how much versatility you can get from this. You can literally change the way your watch looks to match any outfit or mood. This is true of most smartwatches. With the Gear S2, though, you get some of the best looking displays that we’ve ever seen. No matter what kind of watch you want to wear, the Gear S2 can become it.

We also have to bring up the rotating bezel. The Gear S2 has a touchscreen, but you can also use the bezel to choose app. We like the bezel primarily because it’s more accurate than our fingers. Also, it makes the watch even more attractive.

Samsung Gear S2 Price

The Samsung Gear S2 smartwatch retails for about $350. During our research, we found it on sale for about $325. That sale, however, didn’t last long. If you find the Gear S2 for sale at a price under $350, you should buy it quickly before it goes back to full price.

Potential Drawbacks

Some people will complain that the Gear S2 Classic’s price is too high. There are certainly some smartwatches out there that cost less. In fact, Samsung makes cheaper versions of the Gear S2.

The fact of the matter is that Samsung is targeting people who are willing to spend a little more money so they can get a more attractive smartwatch. There are other watches that work just as well as this one. None of them, however, look as nice.

If you’re the type of person who cares a lot about aesthetics, then you probably won’t mind spending extra money on this Classic styled watch. If you care more about functionality than looks, then you might as well some a few dollars by choosing a cheaper version of the Gear S2.

Connection problems is another potential drawback that you should think about before buying a Gear S2. If you already have a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, then you don’t have to worry about it. The Gear S2 with synch up with your smartphone without any problems. If you have a different type of phone, though, you could run into some problems. In our tests, we were able to connect to several other devices, but the connection clearly struggled. Some times it was very slow. At other times it would occasionally lose contact, which is obviously annoying.

At this time, we have to report that iPhones do not play nicely with the Gear S2. We imagine that Samsung made the device just to work with Android.

If your smartphone isn’t a Samsung Galaxy, you should do a little research to make sure it is compatible with the Gear S2.

Conclusion

The Samsung Gear S2 is a high-tech smartwatch with excellent aesthetics. Samsung seems to have paid close attention to every detail when designing this watch. That attention really shows.

Overall, we think this is one of the best smartwatches available. If companies keep pushing themselves the way Samsung has over the last couple years, there’s no telling where smartwatch technology will go over the next decade.

Compatible with select devices using Android 4.4 and later with at least 1.5GB RAM. Some features may not be available. For best compatibility, connect with Samsung Galaxy devices. To find out more call 1 800 SAMSUNG.

At Tech Imperatives, we’re passionate about helping our readers learn about new technologies. We love reading and writing about the latest devices, so we have turned out interest into a useful resource that you can use to help you decide what types of consumer technology are right for you.

In addition to explaining general features included in products like smartphones, fitness trackers, and sleep wristbands, we give you specific details that will help you understand the pros and cons of each model.